Kuwait City, 19 November 2013
Today in Kuwait, President Kagame attended the 1st day of the 3rd Africa Arab Summit where leaders from Africa and the Arab world gathered to discuss economic development.
Pledging one billion dollars of investment in Africa with particular emphasis in the field of infrastructure, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, committed to strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions:
“This summit reflects our awareness of the importance of economic cooperation. Our strategic partnership can only be realized by work, integration and friendship.”
Speaking on behalf of the African Union, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma defined the summit as one of the initiatives that will ensure Africa’s prosperity:
“As Africa celebrates its Golden Jubilee, we are determined to bequeath to the next generations a continent that is integrated, peaceful and prosperous. We are determined to make the positive trajectory that we are currently on irreversible and to build an Africa that takes its rightful place.”
Dr.Nkosazana reminded those present that Africa’s opportunities outnumber its challenges:
‘Africa is a new growth pole, where returns on investments in virtually every sector-from infrastructure to ICT, and from retail, health to manufacturing- are higher than any other part of the world.
President Kagame ended the first day of the 3rd Africa Arab summit with bilateral meetings with President Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo and a multilateral meeting with President Kenyatta of Kenya, Chairman of the African Union, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia and Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa of Uganda.
The 3rd Africa Arab Summit taking place in Kuwait City will close on 20th November with the adoption of the Kuwait declaration.